Luggage compartment liner



1953 J. DONALD HAL 2,649,939"

- LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LINER Filed Jan. 3, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q uvvavrons 39 JAMES DONALD J .MARVIN w. STIMSON G RAYMOND BIRZA 2 33 9 y mk mgz ATTORNEYS Aug. 5, 1953 J. DONALD EI'AL $649,939

LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LINER Filed Jan. 5, 1949' l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JAMES DONALD MARVIN W. STIMSON RAYMOND BIRZA saga am V -15 ATTORNE S Patented Aug. 25, 1953 LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LINER James Donald, Marvin W. Stimson, and Raymond Birza, Denver, 0010., assignors to Shwayder Bros., Inc., Denver, 0010., a corporation of Colorado Application January 3, 1949, Serial No. 68,948

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to luggage compartment liners, and more particularly to liners for compartments of luggage such as traveling cases, wardrobe cases, suit cases, and the like.

A lining, which is normally made of fabric, such as rayon, silk, cotton or other cloth, or a film of plastic or the like, such as vinyl, nylon, and others, is placed in a luggage compartment to provide a smoother, cleaner and more attractive surface, so that clothing such as suits, dresses and other articles, particularly those made of finer materials, can be packed and transported with little danger of becoming soiled, torn or otherwise damaged. Previously, the lining of a luggage compartment has been attached by gluing to the interior walls of the case, which walls define the compartment, or by a combination of gluing and stapling, stitching or the like. When the lining is glued to the inside walls of a luggage compartment, it is difficult for the operator to spread glue on the compartment walls, insert the lining within the compartment, and then press the lining against the wall surfaces, without glue adhering to the fingers or gloves of the operators and thereby being deposited or otherwise placed on the exposed surface of the lining, or on other parts of the case. The lining also tends to adhere to glue on the fingers or gloves of the operators, thereby seriously interfering with the operation of placing and pressing the lining in' place. Not only is production slowed, but also spots of glue on exposed surfaces detract from I the appearance of the case, and provide the poss'ibility of clothing adhering thereto" during use.

As used herein, the term lining, refers to the fabric or other material which provides the inner surface of the compartment, while the term "is readily installed in a compartment; to provide such a liner which tends to have a longer life,

due to its being more securely attached to l the walls of the compartment; to provide such a liner which resists tearing away around the upper fedges; to provide such a liner which may be adapted for use in' any type, size or shape of compartment; to provide such a liner which eliminates complicated stitching operations at the leg of an alternative corner clip.

corners; to provide such a liner which may be manufactured flat, and then installed in the compartment; to provide such a liner to which pockets, straps, or other appurtenances may be attached without difficulty; to provide such a liner which will not introduce glue odors into the finished case; and to provide such a liner which, after installation, will be attractive and neat in appearance.

Additional objects, and the novel features of this invention, will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a luggage case, in open position, showing two compartments, each of which is provided with a liner constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary cutaway view taken at a rear upper corner'of the lower compartment of the luggage case of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the side walls and a portion of the bottom of one of the compartments, taken along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the liner, in fiat position prior to installation in the lower compartment of the luggage case of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the corners of the liner of Fig. 4, illustrating the position. of certain portions thereof upon folding for installation;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken at the corner of the lower compartment along line 66 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken at a bottom corner of the lower compartment of Fig. 1, along line thereof;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a reinforcing strip utilized in a liner constructed 40 in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 9 is a similar perspectiveview of a portion of an alternative reinforcing strip and a portion of the backing on which the strip is mounted;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a side clip, utilized in attaching the liner to the compartment walls;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a corner clip, utilized in attaching the liner to the compartment walls; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical elevation looking at one As illustrated in Fig. 1, a liner constructed in accordance with this invention may be installed in both the lower compartment C and the upper compartment C of a ladies wardrobe case, as

shown in open position. The liner L, in the lower compartment C, may be provided with end pockets It], for small articles of clothing or the like, such as hosiery, and straps adapted to be passed over articles placed in the lower compartment and tied together in a conventional manner. The upper compartment C may be provided with several hangers l2, a cord l3, a frame I4 and a curtain (not shown), for more conveniently packing suits, dresses and the like. The liner L of the lower compartment C, and the liner L of the upper compartment C, may be similar in construction, with the exception of the pockets H3 and straps l, which are unnecessary for the liner L, in the example shown. It will be understood, of course, that any desired appurtenance may be attached to either lining.

The luggage case is provided with walls defining both the lower compartment C and upper compartment C, the walls defining the lower compartment including a pair of end walls i5, a front wall [6, a rear wall I? and a bottom l8, as indicated more clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7. Each of the walls may be formed in a suitable manner, such as by a layer of plywood or the like, provided with a thinner, outer layer IQ of plastic or other material. As in Fig. 3, each side wall 15 may be joined to the bottom l8 by a butt joint, the parts being glued together or attached by a synthetic odorless adhesive. As in Fig. 7, the front wall i6 (and also the rear wall l1) may be joined by a similar butt joint, or by a fillet 2? which produces a rounded, concave inside corner, the outside edge being rounded off prior to attaching the outer layer I9 thereto. As in Fig. 6, each corner joint between an end wall l and the front wall l6 (also the rear wall Il) may be formed as a lock joint, as by alternating tongues and grooves. Each of the side corners is provided with a reinforcing strip 23, made of leather, leatherette or other suitable material, attached to the walls, as by stitching, extending through the walls. The walls defining the upper compartment C may be similarly constructed. The upper and lower compartments are conventionally hinged at the rear, the crack which would appear at the rear when the case is open preferably being covered by a strip 2|, normally made of the same material as the lining. Also, the case may be provided with a handle 22, lock 23 and draw bolts 24, the latter being adapted to hold the case closed, while the exposed edges of the walls of the upper compartment may be provided with grooved strips 25, formed of suitable material such as metal, and the exposed edges of the Walls of the lower compartment with tongued strips 26, adapted to engage the grooved strips 25 and seal the case when closed.

In accordance with this invention, each of the liners L and L may be constructed in a similar manner, the liner L, .as in Figs. 2 and 3, comprising an end lining or 'fabric section 30 and a center lining or fabric section 3|, the novel relationship between these fabric sections being described in detail later. The fabric sections 30 and 3| are mounted on backing strips 32 and 33, respectively, which are formed or stiffer material than the lining, such as cardboard, while the upper end of each backing strip 32 and :33 is provided with a reinforcing strip 34 formed of stronger material, such as aluminum or other sheet metal, and having a shape such as shown in Fig. 8, or in Fig. 9. Each strip 34 encompasses the upper end of the backing strip, and in the form shown in Fig. .8 has an arcuate bend at the top providing a rounded bulge 35, and also front and rear depending legs 36 and 31, respectively. The legs 36 and 31 may be unequal in length, as shown, or may have the same length. As in Figs. 2 and 3, the edge of a backing strip 32 or 33 is inserted between the depending legs 36 and 31 of reinforcing strip 34, while the respective lining or fabric section 30 or 3| passes over and around the reinforcing strip 34, and is secured in position by stitching 38, which passes through both the front and rear layers of fabric 30 or 3| and also through the backing strip 32 or 33, preferably as closely as possible to the lower end of the reinforcing strip 34. By making the legs 36 and 33 of the reinforcing strip of unequal length, this stitching operation is facilitated.

In further accordance with this invention, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the liner L may be made in three sections, represented by the center fabric section 3| and the two end fabric sections 30. Each end fabric section 30 is attached to the respective backing strip 32 separately from the attachment of the center fabric section 3| to backing strip Thus, preferably after mounting the reinforcing strip 34 on the backing strip 32, each end of the fabric or lining section 30 is attached to the corresponding backing strip '32, as by adhesive on the rear, below the reinforcing strip 34 and adjacent the edge of the backing strip opposite thereto. The adhesive is preferably odorless, such as a synthetic adhesive, as of the polyvinyl chloride emulsion type, and may be 'applied to the rear of the backing strip by machine, and the edges of the fabric lining section 30 then pressed therearound and onto the adhesive. Stitching 38 is then sewn, while at the .same time, the pockets m are conveniently attached thereto, as by stitching 39 along the end and bottom edges, the ends 43 of fabric 36, as in Fig. 5, being lapped around the ends of backing strip 32 with end stitching 39 passing therethrough. Each pocket Hi may be formed of the same fabric or material as the lining, but gathered and conventionally provided at the upper end with an elastic strap or ribbon 4|, as in Figs. 2 and 3.

The center fabric section 3| may be mounted in a similar manner on backing strip 33, which has a total area corresponding to the bottom l8 and the front and rear walls It and I1, respectively, of the compartment in which the liner is to be installed. The front and rear edges of fabric section 3| may be attached by adhesive to the rear of backing strip 33 in the manner previously described, the adhesive being applied by machine after reinforcing strips 34 have been mounted on the edges of backing strip 33. The fabric section 3| may then be additionally attached to the backing strip by several rows of stitching 43, as in Fig. 4, in addition to the stitching 3 8 at the reinforcing strips. One of the rows of stitching 43 is preferably adjacent each of the lines along which the backing strip will be bent at the bottom corners of the compartment, when installed, and such rows of stitching may be conveniently utilized in attaching the straps H to the liner. Also, a pad 44, shown in Figs. .3 and '7, and formed of felt or cellulosic material, may be inserted between the fabric section 3| and backing strip 33, so as to extend over the bottom of the compartment, and may be held in position by stitching 43. The center fabric section 3| is preferably Wider than its backing strip 33, so that an edge 45 or selvage, will extend laterally from the backing strip, at each side.

" 'I'he end sections, including'fab'ric sections,

are attached to the central portion of the selvage edges 45, as by stitching 46, which extends through backing strip 32, as in Fig. 3, while the remaining parts of the selvage edges 45 are left as raw edges. Stitching 46 may be in one or two rows, one or both of which may also extend through the lower end of a pocket H), as shown in Fig. 3. v As will be evident from Fig. 4, the entire liner L may be finished in flat position, thus facilitating considerably all stitching operations. Y

Either prior to installation, or at the time, a hole 41 (Fig. 4) may be cut in the liner to accommodate the lock, particularly when the lock is mounted on the inside of the front wall without being mortised therein. The lock may be mounted in the case after the liner is installed, and thereby cover the hole. A suitable hole for the lock catch also may be provided in the liner for the other compartment, when necessary. In addition, at or before installation of-the lock, the bead formed by the bulge of the reinforcing strip, may be flattened at the lock position, i. e.

adjacent hole 41, to further accommodate the lock. 7

It will be evident, of course, that other means may be utilized in attaching the lining sections to the backing strips, and that other stitching arrangements may be employed. Also, the reinforcing strip may differ in configuration, dimension, or the like, from the example shown in Fig. 8. For instance, the reinforcing strip may be made as shown in Fig. 9, wherein the upper edge 48 of a strip 34'. is curled around to form an outwardly extending bulge 35', and also clinched against the backing strip 32. The rear depending leg 31' of strip 34" may extend .as far down as, or a different distance than,

rear leg 31 of strip 34 of Fig. 8. Alternative reinforcing strip 34 may be made of aluminum or other suitable material, as before, and is enveloped by' the fabric which maybe stitched and also attached by adhesive to the backing strip 32 (or backing strip 33) just below the rear leg 3'! in the manner described previously.

When the liner L has been completed, it is then ready to be placed in the compartment. Inthis operation, that portion of selvage edges on each side of the end sections 30, are folded or tucked behind the end sections, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5, so that afterthe liner is installed, the finished ends of the end sections .will be in front of the selvage edges 45, and

thus no raw edges will be exposed. Prior to. the placement of the liner L in the compart- 'ment, a center clip is attached to each of the end walls l5, the front wall l6 and the rear wall l1, adjacent the upper edge thereof, while a corner clip 5| is attached to the walls at each upper corner. The center clip 50, as in Fig. 10,

may be provided with an upper prong 52 into which the upper edge of the liner is inserted,

. from beneath, and the prong then clinched around the bulge formed by virtue of the rein-,

forcing strip, as Fig. 3. Each corner clip 5| is provided with a pair of prongs 53, as in Fig. 11, and these prongs are similarly clinched around the upper edge of the liner, as in Fig.

, 2, the liner thus being held securelyaround the upper edges of the compartment. i For attachment to the walls, each center chp 50, as in Fig,;10, may be provided with a hole 54, through which a screw 55, as in Fig. 3, may

extend beneath'the tongued strip 26 to attach,

6 the respective clip to the wall. Also, so that the clip will be disposed in a more nearly vertical position, the lower end of the clip may be bent rearwardly to form a spacing finger 56 adapted to abut against the inside of wall l5, as in Fig. 3, or another wall, thereby causing the upper end of the clip to lie flat against the tongued strip 26, or the grooved strip 25, when installed thereagainst. As in Fig. 11, each corner clip 5| may be formed as a right angle, with each lower corner bent back to form a spacing finger 51, adapted to cause the upper end of the clip to liefiat against the grooved or tongued strips 25 and 26, respectively, in a manner similar to the spacing finger 56 of the center clip 50. Each corner clip 5| may be provided with a top 58 bent over but cut away so that, when installed, the ends of the liner sections will be covered at least partially. Or,. as in Fig. 12, a corner clip 5| may be provided With a top 53 having a skirt 59 which is adapted to extend over the liner at the corner. In forming the prongs 53, a slit 60 is preferably made in the top, the slits being slightly exaggerated in Figs. 11 and 12, and each slit extending back nearly to the main body of the clip, so that the prongs can be more readily bent over the upper edge of the liner. Each corner clip 5| or 5| may also be provided with one or more screw holes for attachment of the clip to the walls of the compartment, such as the corner screw hole 6| of Fig. 11, through which an attaching screw extends into the wall section of greatest thickness, i. e. at the corners, or the side screw holes 6| of Fig. 12, if two screws are desired, as for alignment and stability. As will be understood, both the center clips and corner clips may be made in a different manner, or attached to the walls in a different manner. 7 t

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the luggage compartment liner of this invention fulfills to a marked degree the requirements and objects hereinbefore set forth Due to the attachment of the liner in the compartment by means of corner clips and side clips, or the like, it will be evident that the necessity for gluing .the lining to the walls of the compartment is completely eliminated. Also, the installation of 'the liner is relatively simple and easy, since the upper edges of the liner sections are easily inserted beneath the clips, and the operation of bending or clinching each clip over onto the bulge formed by the reinforcing strip is simple and inexpensive. The reinforcing strips prevent any sagging or any tendency for the lining to be dislodged or torn away, as is sometimes the case when the lining is glued to the compartment walls. Also, the backing strips maintain the lower portion of the liner in the bottom of the compartment, so that the liner stays in the compartment without any attachment other than by meansof clips or the like.

All of the manufacturing steps on the liner, prior to final installation, may be done while 'the liner is fiat, thereby not only increasing the ease of attachment of appurtenances such as pockets and straps, but also rendering the enscience the previous difficulty with gluing operations, since no glue or adhesive is placed on the lining or on the compartment walls. This not only assists in simplifying the manufacturing and final installation, but also renders the liner, as installed, more attractive and neat in appear,- ance, :since no glue or adhesiv spots will appear on exposed surfaces, after installation. Also, the use of an odorless adhesive eliminates the possibility of a glue odor, such glue normally bein an animal product, permeating the caseand becoming odoriferously evident after the :case has been closed, particularly for a relatively long period of time.

As further be evident, the size of the liner may be changed to fit substantially any type, size or shape .of compartment, and any desired pockets, straps :or other appurtenances may be attached thereto without difficulty. While the liner of this invention has been shown as applied to a ladies wardrobe case, it will be evident that it may be applied to other types of luggage, such as diiierent types .of traveling eases, overnight cases, other wardrobe cases, suit cases, and even to trunks, particularly small trunks, and other types of luggage. The liner of this invention may also be used in non-traveli-n-g equipment, such as equipment which includes storage compartments for clothing and other articles, and also may be applied generally to any compartment for which a lining or liner is to be provided.

Although a specific embodiment of this invention, and alternative forms of certain parts thereof, have been illustrated or described, it will be understood that other embodiments may exist, and various other changes may be made, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In luggage cases and the like, having walls defining a compartment, a liner for such compartment comprising a lining of a size to cover a predetermined portion of at least one said wall; a backing for said lining and on which said lining is mounted; and a reinforcing strip of material normally stronger than said backing and mounted on and encompassing one edge of said backing, said lining enclosing said reinforcing strip.

.2. In luggage cases and the like, having walls defining a compartment, the improvement comprising a lining of a size to cover a predetermined portion of at least one said wall; a backing for said lining and on which said lining is mounted; a reinforcing strip of materia1 normally stronger than said backing and mounted on said backing, said reinforcing strip being formed to provide a bulge along the upper edge of said lining; and means .on said wall cooperating with and extending over the bulge provided by said reinforcing strip to attach .said lining thereto.

3. In "luggage cases and the like, having walls defining a compartment, a liner for such compartment comprising two lining sections, each of a size to cover a predetermined portion .of one of two adjacent walls; a backing for each said lining section and on which said lining section is mounted; .a reinforcing strip of vmaterial normally stronger than said backing and mounted on one edge of each said backing; and clips mounted on said walls, said clips having prongs extending over said reinforcing strips to attach said liner to said walls.

' '4; In luggage cases and the like, having -walls defining a compartment, a liner for such compartment comprising two lining sections, .each of a siz -to cover a predetermined portion of one of two adjacent walls; a backing for each :said lining section and on which said lining is mounted; a reinforcing strip of material normally stronger than said backing and mounted on oneedge of each said backing; and clips mounted on said walls, said clips having prongs extending over said reinforcing strips to attach said liner to said walls, at least one of said clips :being a corner clip comprising an angularly shaped body installed in the corner between two said walls, each angular portion of said body having :at its upper end a prong extending over and clinched against the upper edge of said liner, said clip also having a top disposed above at least a portion of the upperedge of said liner, and a slit between said top and each said prong, :said slit extending substantially to the body of said clip.

$5.. .In luggage cases and the like, having walls defining a compartment, a liner for such compartment comprising a lining of a size to cover a predetermined portion of at least two adjacent walls, including the corner between said walls, said'lining including a portion for each said wall, said portions being attached together; a backingfor each said lining portionand on which said lining portion is mounted; a reinforcing .strip of material normally stronger than said backing and mounted on one edge of each said backing; and means cooperable with said reinforcing strips for mounting said liner in said compartment.

6. In luggage cases and the like, a liner as defined in claim '5, wherein the edge of one said lining portion is tucked behind another said lining portion at a corner of said compartment.

'7 In luggage cases and the like, having walls defining a compartment, a liner for such oompartment comprising a central lining section of a size to cover the bottom and at least one of the side walls of said compartment; other lining sections for each of the remaining walls, said sections being attached together; a backing for each said lining section and on which said lining section is mounted; a reinforcing strip of material normally stronger than said backing and mounted on-one edge of each said backing, each said reinforcing strip providing a bulge at the upper edge of each side wall; and means coopera'ble with said reinforcing strips for mounting said liner in said compartment, said means including a portion extending over the bulge provided by each said reinforcing strip.

'8. In luggage cases and the like, having walls defining a compartment, a liner for such compartment comprising a lining of a size to cover a predetermined portion of at least one said wall; a backing for said lining and on which said lining is mounted; a reinforcing strip of material normally stronger than-said backing and mounted on and encompassing one edge of said backing, said rein-forcing strip providing a bulge on the front side thereof and said lining passing around said reinforcing strip; and clips attached to said wall and each having a portion extending over the bulge provided by said reinforcing strip and clinched thereagainsti 9. 'In luggage cases and the like, a -liner as defined in claim 8, wherein said reinforcing strip is provided with front and rear legs, said front leg extending downwardly from said bulge.

of a compartment of a luggage case or the like,

comprising an angularly shaped body installed in the corner between two said walls, each angular portion of said body having at its upper end a prong extending over and clinched against the upper edge of said liner, said clip also having a top disposed above said liner and .a slit between said top and each said prong, said slit extending substantially to the body of said clip.

13. A liner for a compartment of a luggage case or the like, comprising a central fabric lining section providing the bottom and the front and rear inside walls of said compartment; a backing strip formed of cardboard or the like and attached to said lining section beneath the same;

a reinforcing strip for each of the front and rear ends of said backing strip and encompassing the edge of said backing strip at said ends, each said reinforcing strip also providing a bulge on the front side thereof, said central lining section extending around each said reinforcing strip and being stitched to said backing strip immediately adjacent each said reinforcing strip, said lining section also being attached by adhesive to said backing strip on the rear thereof adjacent each said reinforcing strip, said central lining section having a greater width than said backing strip whereby the edge of said lining section extends past said backing strip at each side thereof to form selvage edges; a pair of end fabric lining sections and backing strips having reinforcing strips, each said end lining section extending around said reinforcing strip and being attached by adhesive to the rear of said backing strip adjacent the inner and outer edges thereof and stitched thereto closely adjacent said reinforcing strip, each said reinforcing strip being mounted on the outer edge of said backing strip and encompassing said edge, and also providing a bulge on the front side thereof; said stitching connecting said end sections to said center section along the middle portion of the edges of said central fabric section.

14. In luggage cases and the like, having walls defining a compartment, a liner for such compartment as defined in claim 13, the selvage edges of said central fabric section being tucked behind the end fabric sections when said liner is installed in said compartment; a center clip attached to the upper edge of each wall and having a prong bent over and clinched against the bulge provided by said reinforcing strip; and a corner clip at each upper corner of said compartment, each said corner clip having a pair of prongs bent over and clinched against the bulge formed by a reinforcing strip, closely adjacent each end of said central section and each end section.

JAMES DONALD. MARVIN W. STIMSON. RAYMOND BIRZA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 384,969 Frankel June 26, 1888 898,026 Wilson Sept. 8, 1908 1,023,238 Becker Apr. 16, 1912 1,490,001 Gaynor Apr. 8, 1924 1,742,204 Finkelstein Jan. 7, 1930 2,328,100 Ritter Aug. 31, 1943 2,466,398 Droutman Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 162,091 Great Britain Apr. 27, 1921 

